Aldridge grateful for Bowen’s number

Aldridge grateful for Bowen’s number

1of5San Antonio Spurs’ LaMarcus Aldridge poses for photos with his jersey during a press conference at the Spurs practice facility Friday July 10, 2015 where he was officially introduced.Photo: Edward A. Ornelas /San Antonio Express-News

2of5LaMarcus Aldridge, right, poses with San Antonio Spurs general manager R.C. Buford, left, and his new jersey during a news conference at the team’s practice facility as he is formally introduced after he signed with the San Antonio Spurs NBA basketball team, Friday, July 10, 2015, in San Antonio.Photo: Eric Gay /Associated Press

When he agreed to join the Spurs last week, free agent forward LaMarcus Aldridge was aware his customary No. 12 had been retired in San Antonio to honor Bruce Bowen.

Aldridge knew he would probably have to choose a number different from the one he had worn for nine seasons in Portland.

He just didn’t expect the prospect to be so daunting.

“I was having a headache, and I wasn’t sleeping at night trying to pick new numbers,” Aldridge said Friday. “I was going through numbers and it just wasn’t fitting right.”

Bowen saved Aldridge a migraine by agreeing to allow the Spurs dust his No. 12 out of retirement.

It is a gesture Aldridge won’t soon forget.

“I’m going to call him and thank him because he didn’t have to do that,” Aldridge said. “He’s loved here, and I don’t want to cause any friction by wanting his number. He gave me his blessing, and I’m thankful for it.”

A key member of Spurs championship teams in 2003, 2005 and 2007, Bowen said the decision was an easy call.

“LaMarcus Aldridge is a franchise player,” the 44-year-old Bowen said with a laugh. “I’m just the ‘e’ in franchise.”

European center en route? The Spurs are finalizing a free-agent contract with Serbian center Boban Marjanovic, multiple league sources said Friday.

At a legitimate 7-foot-3, the 26-year-old Marjanovic would fill a hole on the Spurs’ bench created when Aron Baynes signed with Detroit last week.

A skilled big man with panache for rebounding, Marjanovic averaged 16.6 points, 10.6 rebounds and 1.6 blocks for the Serbian club Crvena Zvezda and was named a weekly Euroleague MVP.

Duncan contract details: How much money did Tim Duncan sacrifice to the Spurs’ Aldridge courtship?

The two-year deal the Spurs’ captain signed Thursday will pay him $5.25 million next season, with incentives that could take his salary to $6 million.

Duncan, 39, would make $5.6 million should he choose to play in 2016-17. That year comes with a player option.

“Tim has contributed to our success in many ways for so long,” general manager R.C. Buford said. “People continue to point that out, and it needs to be pointed out. But this is nothing new.”